Greetings,
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, a new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5 v17)
The start of a new year can stir a wide range of feelings. For some, this is a source of renewed energy and hope, marking the beginning of a fresh year full of potential. Others,however, may find it more challenging, with dreary weather, the pressure of post-Christmas expenses, or a sense of letdown after the festive period all contributing to a subdued mood. Even those who having enjoyed the Advent and Christmas period may find that January requires a deliberate effort to seek out new reasons to celebrate and look ahead with hope.
The way we experience January can be shaped by how we observe its events, and first thoughts naturally turn to New Year’s resolutions. (Apparently, the first New Year’s resolutions date back over 4,000 years ago to ancient Babylon. The Babylonians would plant crops, crown a new king, and make promises to the gods to pay their debts and return any borrowed items. They believed that if they kept their word, the gods would look favourably on them for the year ahead. New year’s resolutions as we know them seem to have started around 1752 when the Gregorian calendar was introduced.) New Year marks the transition from the old to the new, and resolutions are a response to our inner desire to become new, to be better people. For many, the New Year brings with it the promise of significant milestones - special anniversaries, birthdays, or the anticipation of important events. These might include weddings, the birth of a child, changing school, starting a first job, or even retirement.
As we launch into 2026, January can be a helpful time to pause and reflect on the changes we all experience and all that we hope for. Using that text from Corinthians above to meditate on, is useful in helping us to discern that in Christ we can discover a spiritual transformation, a renewal not brought about by half-hearted resolutions that fade after a few days but by the empowering Spirit of God transforming our lives to reflect Christ’s; a life
that is forever new. And that living in the loving presence of Christ can enable us to face whatever the New Year brings, be it celebration or difficulty.
A Happy and Blessed New Year!
Revd John